Changing with the times: Renovation of Animal Science Research Center lecture hall
by Carah Hart, posted Sept. 9, 2009
State-of-the-art desks transform a newly renovated lecture hall. As classes begin and the normal hustle and bustle of school gets back in gear, the University of Missouri gives a new face to Animal Science Building Room S147B.
There one can find ten rows of modern desks, two document cameras and newly painted walls. These are all a part of the Animal Sciences’ summer classroom renovation project. The renovation that transformed crowded classrooms into one learning community, and a place where squeaky chairs have become a thing of the past.
Taking all summer to complete, this renovation included replacing tile flooring, desks, soundproof walls, and high tech equipment, but one would think, in a time where recession impacts the economy, that funding could get tricky.
Bryan Garton, associate dean and director of academic programs for the University’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) said that funding for the room was divided into thirds.
“The University of Missouri campus, Animal Science department, and the college of Agriculture each contributed their funds to complete this project,” Garton said. “It’s great to see such a partnership between the department, college and campus.”
The final renovation cost totaled around $185,000, but the lecture hall has multiple uses for different classes including Hotel and Restaurant Management classes. Large lectures for animal science and other CAFNR classes were held throughout campus at locations that were large enough to seat the whole class.
“Lecture hall S147, built in the 1980s, originally held 200 students, said William D. Lamberson, physiological genetics professor. “The whole purpose for the renovation was to allow more room for the increase of students at the university. The newly renovated room now holds 80 more flexible chairs to accommodate large class sizes.”
When the first animal science class meets Monday morning, the seats fill with room to spare. Lamberson is excited about the newly renovated room.
“My favorite thing is it’s quiet — the chairs used to squeak,” Lamberson said. “The acoustics are much better and we have added more technology. Using this room for multiple classes was a very good idea. It will benefit many students because the university has a large enrollment this year.”
There are still more plans for this room.
“We now have new screens for the document cameras and we will also change the angles so they are easier to view,” Garton said. “It’s nice to be able to have the latest equipment while teaching so that you can do a variety of things.”
